Dale E. Middleton

you will be missed rest in peace dale

My first memory of Uncle Dale was when, as a child in the 1960s, all the families gathered at Grandma & Grandpa Middleton’s house for Christmas Eve and grandpa would read the story of the birth of Christ from the bible, after which us grandchildren would open presents. In the background you would hear the chatter of emergency radios because Dale and Delvin were volunteer firemen and they were listening for fires. (One day I was with Delvin in his van when the call came and we put the blue flasher on the dashboard and away we sped to save the world. So awesome for a kid!) I was proud of my uncles. Also in the 1960s I would walk down the street to Dale and Dell’s TV store and I’d wander through the back of the store where they kept all the guts of TVs. Those two were on the leading edge of technology in the 1960s. To me they were like Thomas Edison. In the late 1960s my parents built a house and asked friends and family to help. I watched in awe as Dale zipped back and forth under the house with his backhoe like it was an extension of his mind. As I recall he was digging the basement and would duck under the beam above his head at just the right instant as he backed up with each load. There’s something about seeing my uncle do amazing things that gave me confidence later in life that those talents might also be in my DNA. Some people are all talk and no action. Dale was all action and no talk. Quiet competence. Any time we needed him he was immediately there for us. As an adult, when my sister called me because her septic system was leaking into the yard and the street, I had absolutely no idea how to solve the problem. So who did I call? Uncle Dale. As always, he dropped everything and was there immediately and quietly took charge. What would we have done without him? I had many experiences with my Uncle Dale. Every boy and every man needs an Uncle Dale. As I close these thoughts I go back to my first memory of him at those Christmas gatherings at Grandma/pa Middleton’s house. We each drew names and would buy a gift for that family member. The only gift I remember getting in all those years was from Uncle Dale. It was a remote control convertible car — the most awesome, beautiful car! I remember thanking him and seeing the love in his eyes. I now realize the car was a replica of the convertible he bought before he went to Korea with the Marines. When he left for Korea he handed the keys over to my mother, Imogene, to drive while he was overseas. I think his gift to me that Christmas was a fun reminder between brother and sister of the car they shared. He was always generous to his sister. I’m proud of my Uncle Dale. And I’m so grateful for his loyalty and generosity to me and my family throughout his life. ~Clay Smith

Our family wishes you peace during this time of sorrow. My father, Paul was found of his memories of Dale. Debbie Totten

Betty so sorry for you and the girls loss. Thoughts and prayers for all of the family.

Becky-Our deepest condolences to you and your family in your time of loss. Stacie & Chris Devine

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.